After days of intense searching by ground and air, US forces found the bodies of two soldiers missing north of Baghdad, as the toll of American dead since the start of war topped 200.
Also Saturday, British forces were greeted peacefully as they returned to a southern Shiite town where six of their troops were killed in clashes. And the US military announced small rebuilding projects, ranging from the delivery of school and medical supplies to the restoration of power and water in several Iraqi towns.
The day's events highlighted the pattern of progress and setback that has bedeviled the US-led occupation, facing daily attacks that distract from the mission of reconstruction.
Sergeant First Class Gladimir Philippe and Private First Class Kevin Ott were last seen Wednesday at their post in the town of Balad, 40km north of Baghdad.
Their remains were found 32km northwest of the capital Saturday morning, while their Humvee was recovered Friday in another location nearby, a senior Pentagon official said on condition of anonymity. Some of the soldiers' personal items were found during a house-to-house search in the area on Friday, and a total of 12 Iraqis have been taken into custody, the US military said from Baghdad.
The crew had two M-16 rifles, a grenade launcher and a global-positioning unit, and were equipped to have radio and visual contact with nearby teams, the official said, adding that he did not know if any of that gear was missing.
A sandstorm at the time made it hard to see, though it was not known if the storm contributed to the disappearance or to the other soldiers not noticing that it was happening, the official said.
Iraqis later reported seeing the Humvee traveling with a white vehicle. The vehicle was tracked to a house, which led to the detentions of people being questioned.
On Saturday, British soldiers moved back into Majar al-Kabir, a predominantly Shiite southern town, scene of the deadly bloody confrontation. A group of Shiite clerics and prominent town officials received the returning soldiers in a ceremony aimed at putting the acrimony in the past.
"We are not here for retribution," said Captain Guy Winter, of Dover, England, who made initial contact with the Iraqi delegation.
Attacks continued yesterday, as insurgents ambushed a US patrol near Khaldiyah, 60km west of Baghdad, using rocket-propelled grenades. One grenade struck a Bradley fighting vehicle, but didn't cause any significant damage or injuries.
The US soldiers returned fire with 25mm cannon fire, but apparently didn't inflict any casualties.
In other violence, attackers lobbed a grenade at a US convoy making its way through the predominantly Shiite Thawra neighborhood of northeast Baghdad late Friday, killing one American soldier and wounding four others, said military spokesman Sergeant Patrick Compton. A civilian Iraqi interpreter was also wounded, he said. No arrests were made and no further details were immediately available.
Another soldier, shot in the neck Friday as he shopped at a Baghdad market, was listed in critical condition Saturday, Compton said.
The deaths bring to at least 63 the number of US troops killed in Iraq since major combat was declared over on May 1.
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